Episodes
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In this episode of Community Good, Marney Andes, and Allison Jackson explore the evolution of wellness journeys, focusing on the transition from competitive fitness to holistic well-being. They discuss the importance of self-compassion, the role of play in adult life, and the societal pressures that often prevent women from prioritizing their joy and fun. The dialogue emphasizes mindfulness as a tool for enhancing daily experiences and managing stress while addressing the guilt that often accompanies self-care. Ultimately, the conversation encourages listeners to embrace their unique wellness journeys and find joy.
Main Topics
00:00 Introduction to Wellness Journeys
04:20 Transitioning from Competition to Wellness
10:30 The Importance of Play and Fun
18:29 Overcoming Guilt and Societal Expectations
24:28 Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
30:44 Creating Boundaries for Self-Care
More about Allison Jackson:
After hitting 50, Allison quickly realized that all aspects of her definition of wellness would need to shift. From marathoner to competitive pro bodybuilder to yogi and sound healer, Allison will take you along her journey as she learns what it means to have a “healthy lifestyle” in this new era.
As a speaker for women's retreats, trade organizations, and corporate groups, she aims to help burned-out corporate professionals prioritize their wellness through mindfulness, nutrition, and movement. She’s also a certified meditation instructor, nutrition coach, personal trainer, yoga instructor, and sound healer.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonrjackson
https://www.allisonjacksonfitness.com/
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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In this episode of Community Good, Marney Andes and Julie Applegate explore the benefits and barriers of women in community. The benefits include increased psychological well-being, improved sense of belonging and self-efficacy, and enhanced personal and professional development. The barriers include fear of judgment and vulnerability, internalized misogyny and competition, lack of trust or previous negative experiences, and time constraints and competing responsibilities. Marney and Julie share personal experiences and discuss the importance of women supporting each other's growth. The conversation ends with a call to action to reach out to another woman, celebrate and support each other, and prioritize self-care.
Main Topics
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:29 The Benefits of Women in Community
09:01 Barriers to Women Seeking Support in Community
17:05 Supporting Women's Growth and Development
23:26 Taking Small Steps to Build Community
30:36 Conclusion and Call to Action
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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Episodes manquant?
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Marney and Julie Applegate discuss the 'should storm' concept and how it affects women.
Main Topics
00:00 Introduction
02:27 Defining the Should Storm
14:40 The Cost of Internalizing Shoulds
26:46 Questioning and Reframing Shoulds
31:44 Releasing Shoulds and Seeking Support
33:44 Creating a Community that Challenges Societal Norms
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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Dani Holliday, current Mrs. Colorado 2023, is a trailblazer in many ways. Aside from her title-winning persona, she carries abundant wisdom forged from the life experiences that shaped her into the strong role model she is today. In her conversation with Marney, Dani pulls back the curtain to reveal her unique story through heartbreak and healing. In her youth, Dani’s first love was competitive gymnastics. When she suffered a series of life-altering injuries, she made the difficult decision to give up her dream of becoming a college gymnast. Spiraling from chronic pain and her severed identity, Dani became dependent on opioids. Her highly functioning addiction took her on a journey of self-discovery that changed her life.
Falling in love with her now husband and becoming a bonus mom was the turning point Dani needed to deal with her opioid dependency. Utilizing therapy and self-reflection, she was able to free herself from the grip of opioids. Now she uses various platforms to share her story in hopes of helping others experiencing similar struggles. Building a non-traditional family has only strengthened her resolve to set appropriate boundaries and live in alignment with her authentic self. Dani is now an advocate for those struggling with infertility as she draws from her own journey with IVF. While earning the title of Mrs. Colorado boosted her reach, Dani’s mission to support women extends far beyond her platform as a pageant competitor.
Main Topics
Marney finds her platform in the pageant world (04:30)
The woman behind the title of Mrs. Colorado (08:40)
Dani Holliday beyond her public persona (11:44)
Dani’s early life as a competitive gymnast (13:15)
Multiple surgeries led to an opioid addiction (18:50)
Becoming a bonus parent inspired her sobriety (21:45)
Uncovering core wounds through counseling (24:45)
Support for opioid dependents (28:20)
Using personal struggle as inspiration for others (31:40)
Dani’s journey with infertility and non-traditional family life (34:30)
Parenting a multiracial child (41:00)
Episode Links
https://mrscolorado.com/mrscolorado
Connect with Dani:
https://www.instagram.com/mrs_colorado_2023
https://www.facebook.com/daniellemuss
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marneyandeslessons
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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Marney pauses to reflect on the lessons she’s learning and practicing and to thank listeners for walking this journey alongside her. In a relatively short span of time, she published a book, left her job in executive leadership, and started a podcast. Investing time and energy into building new platforms is a deeply rewarding experience. Marney is now taking the time to reflect back on her process and glean valuable lessons from her successes and mistakes. Much in alignment with the theme of her book, she believes we all have wisdom inside us from our life experiences. Harnessing that wisdom as a resource for building the next phase of life requires stillness and honesty. In pushing herself to new growth edges, Marney announces a new direction for her podcast. She will continue sharing her own and other people’s stories, but now she wants to dive deeper into even more impactful territory. After a short hiatus with the podcast, she’ll be back with a fresh name and laser-sharp focus on asking hard questions and exploring truths.
Main Topics
Marney reflects on her book Start With the Give-Me Shots (00:30)
Her reasons for starting her podcast (02:30)
The shift from a corporate job to running her own consulting business (04:00)
New direction for diving deep with the podcast (06:15)
Episode Links
https://www.marneyandes.com/the-book
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marneyandeslessons
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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CEO, keynote speaker and self-development coach Jaime Taets keeps it real about what it feels like to be stuck and how to move forward through life’s greatest challenges. After hosting a successful podcast for several years, Jaime realized she had many stories she still needed to share. Inspired by lessons from her own seasons of change, she poured wisdom and inspiration into her first book You Are Here. In it she encourages readers to use roadblocks as launching pads for building lives of purpose. Instead of resisting difficult situations, adjust your mindset to see the potential lessons from going through hard times. These lessons will change you as a person and remind you that you have the power to build a life you love.
According to Jaime, one of the greatest barriers to success is our busyness. Silence is important for problem solving, especially for entrepreneurs. She advises clients to schedule unstructured time throughout the week for uninterrupted contemplation. When people slow down and access the unconscious mind, abundance flows. Specific practices Jaime recommends for mindfulness are meditation, breath work, and body movement that serves your needs. Take inventory of where your energy is going. It might be time to make the hard decision to remove people or activities from your life in order to free up time and energy for your priorities. Finally, become aware of fears when they come up and choose to redirect them with faith. Building inner resilience means that when difficulties arise, you remain confident in your ability to handle hard things and be a better person because of it.
Main Topics
Setting authentic examples for children
Tools for managing tough circumstances
Busy is the new stupid
Jaime’s recognition awards and upcoming second book
Episode Links
https://jaimetaets.com
http://superpower-success.blubrry.net
Connect with Jaime:
https://www.facebook.com/JaimeTaets
https://www.instagram.com/jaime_taets
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimetaets
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marneyandeslessons
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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CEO, keynote speaker and self-development coach Jaime Taets keeps it real about what it feels like to be stuck and how to move forward through life’s greatest challenges. After hosting a successful podcast for several years, Jaime realized she had many stories she still needed to share. Inspired by lessons from her own seasons of change, she poured wisdom and inspiration into her first book You Are Here. In it she encourages readers to use roadblocks as launching pads for building lives of purpose. Instead of resisting difficult situations, adjust your mindset to see the potential lessons from going through hard times. These lessons will change you as a person and remind you that you have the power to build a life you love.
According to Jaime, one of the greatest barriers to success is our busyness. Silence is important for problem solving, especially for entrepreneurs. She advises clients to schedule unstructured time throughout the week for uninterrupted contemplation. When people slow down and access the unconscious mind, abundance flows. Specific practices Jaime recommends for mindfulness are meditation, breath work, and body movement that serves your needs. Take inventory of where your energy is going. It might be time to make the hard decision to remove people or activities from your life in order to free up time and energy for your priorities. Finally, become aware of fears when they come up and choose to redirect them with faith. Building inner resilience means that when difficulties arise, you remain confident in your ability to handle hard things and be a better person because of it.
Main Topics
Jaime’s inspiration for writing her book (02:10)
Lessons for the younger self (06:25)
Jaime’s practices for mental and emotional wellbeing (10:50)
Feeling stuck is a catalyst for change (15:30)
Empowering ourselves by pursuing purpose (17:15)
Accepting big life changes (19:35)
Episode Links
https://jaimetaets.com
http://superpower-success.blubrry.net
Connect with Jaime:
https://www.facebook.com/JaimeTaets
https://www.instagram.com/jaime_taets
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimetaets
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marneyandeslessons
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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The most powerful women in the world, both currently and historically, are landowners. Real estate guru Lori Pace has discovered how this one facet of stability can change everything for women seeking to build their independence. Because of a lack of education around financial investments, many women believe buying property is a complicated process. Lori coaches clients that they can get started with only $1000. As part of her mission to equip women with authority over their own lives, she spends much of her time educating them on the basic steps for moving towards their dreams. Regardless of a client’s specific goals, real estate can play a role in helping them get there. From unhoused to high-end clientele, Lori uses her personal experiences to guide others to financial freedom.
One of the biggest challenges women face in the world of property investment today is antiquated biases that continue to plague the system. Timeshares are a great way for women to begin their investment journey, but many companies require owners to be coupled. The best way to thrive in spite of these limitations is by surrounding yourself with people who are willing to share their wealth of knowledge, much like Lori. Women educating women is a powerful tool for networking and tailoring your real estate experience to your specific needs. Once women discover this timeless tool for becoming their own bank, they are unstoppable. In this way, independence can be seen as a privilege rather than a burden.
Main Topics
Assets become your bank (01:06)
Building a real estate mindset (05:00)
How women can plan for investing in real estate (07:40)
Start with a downpayment (12:30)
Advice for building equity (16:00)
Take the first step to educate yourself (20:10)
Limitations of timeshare system (24:10)
Lori’s current life lesson (30:30)
Episode Links
https://loripace.com
Connect with Lori:
https://www.facebook.com/changingpaces
https://www.instagram.com/theloripace
https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripace
Connect with Marney:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marneyandes
https://www.instagram.com/marneyandes
https://www.facebook.com/marneyandesauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marneyandeslessons
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
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About Lori Pace:
Lori Pace didn’t set out to make real estate her passion; it just happened that way. Now as a consultant, strategist, community activist and motivational speaker, Lori strives to create a more equitable world. She’s found that one of the best ways to address the wealth gap is by empowering women to invest in real estate. Educating women on how to own their own real estate equips them with financial stability throughout the highs and lows of life.
Connect with Lori:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changingpaces
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloripace
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loripace
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Dr. Liz Wilson, a behavioral scientist, organizational transformation expert, and founder of Include Inc., shares more about her journey to working with organizations on inclusion, her 8-inclusion needs of all people, and great insights for all of us live by in our day to day interactions with each other.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What behaviors and attitudes regarding inclusion exist in my personal and professional life, and how can I continue to improve and learn?
2. How can I learn from and collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds?
3. In what ways can I use my privilege and influence to advocate for underrepresented groups and promote equity?
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About Dr. Liz Wilson:
Originally from Australia and now based in the United States, Dr. Liz is well known for her authentic, honest, and pragmatic approach to everything she does. This includes her simple yet powerful, Include Change Method that has achieved remarkable results for her clients over her 25+ year career.
Dr. Liz has transformed the ways of working and cultures of dozens of global organizations, including major airlines, banks, consumer goods, telecommunications, mining, rail, tech, and medtech companies.
With a professional purpose that has always centered around the desire to equip individuals, teams, and organizations to thrive, Dr. Liz’s unrelenting curiosity also led her to research and find the solution to inclusion transformation and reducing discrimination, with the development of the 8-Inclusion Needs of all People.
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Connect with Liz:
Website: theincludeinc.com
LinkedIn: @drlizwilson
Podcast: Include with Dr. Liz
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Melissa Payne is the bestselling author of four novels, including A Light in the Forest and The Night of Many Endings, who talks about her journey from an early career fundraiser to a full-time career author. Beyond her exceptional writing talent and personal success, she’s an inspiration, believing deeply and reminding us that we have a story to share.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. How can sharing our personal stories benefit us and those around us?
2. How can listening to other people's stories broaden our perspectives and enhance our understanding of the world?
3. In what ways can sharing our stories create a sense of community and connectedness?
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About Melissa Payne:
Melissa Payne is the bestselling author of four novels, including A Light in the Forest and The Night of Many Endings. After a graduate degree in Public Administration and an early career raising money for nonprofit organizations, Melissa dreamed of becoming a published author and decided to write her first novel. Her books, two-time Colorado Book Award finalists and a 2019 Colorado Authors League winner for mainstream fiction, feature small mountain towns with characters searching for redemption, love, and second chances. She’s spoken to book clubs, reading groups, literary festivals, and the occasional podcast about her writing journey and believes everyone has a story to share. Melissa lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children, a friendly mutt, a very loud cat, and the occasional bear.
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Connect with Melissa:
Website: melissapayneauthor.com
Instagram: @melissapayne_writes
Buy Melissa’s Books:
The Night of Many Endings
A Light in the Forest
The Secrets of Lost Stones
Memories in the Drift
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Cindy Abramson and Sheryl Gurrentz are the co-authors of the book A Strange Period, sharing the mental and physical changes they experienced during their early 40s and what led them to write the book they were seeking at the time.
Focused on perimenopause and unpredictable and sometimes funny, not-so-funny, unlimited symptoms, our conversation reminds us that we are not alone. And that one of the most powerful ways to experience change is to do so with each other, openly and honestly.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What are some benefits of seeking open, honest dialogue during change?
2. How can we encourage others to engage in open and honest dialogue, especially when they may be hesitant or resistant?
3. How can open and honest dialogue contribute to building stronger and more resilient communities?
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About the authors:
Cindy Abramson and Sheryl Gurrentz are BFFs who aren't afraid to discuss the gory details of the mental and physical changes they began experiencing in their early 40s. They admit it took them a while to realize that what they were experiencing was perimenopause but blame their confusion on the lack of available resources to help women their age figure it out. When they couldn't find supportive, current, consistent information on what women experience before menopause, they created the book they sought.
Sheryl Gurrentz and Cindy Singer previously wrote If Your Child is Bipolar. Sheryl also wrote The Guilt-Free Guide to Your New Life as a Mom. Both books have been recognized as National Parenting Publications Gold Award Winners. The authors each have a wonderful husband, and two children, and live in Denver, Colorado.
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Buy The Book:
Amazon: A Strange Period
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Adriana Bucci, after nearly three decades of enduring narcissistic abuse and four years of dealing with severe chronic pain and migraines, made the choice to embark on her own healing journey.
Now, a life coach, specializing in helping other people heal from narcissistic trauma and abuse, Adriana shares more information about what narcissism is, how you might be experiencing people with it in your workplace, family, or personal life, and strategies for healing, setting clear and healthy boundaries and moving on.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What relationships in your life, professional and personal, have been difficult to manage?
2. How have you experienced people with narcissistic behaviors in your professional and personal life?
3. What do you need to do to set clear boundaries for yourself?
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About Adriana Bucci:
Adriana Bucci is a narcissistic abuse recovery life coach based in Toronto, Canada. She empowers her clients worldwide to heal from narcissistic abuse, set boundaries, and live life on their own terms. After nearly three decades of enduring narcissistic abuse and four years of dealing with severe chronic pain and migraines, she learned about the mind-body connection and, despite being skeptical, made the choice to embark on her own healing journey. This not only helped her heal from the physical pain, but it also helped her heal from having been raised by a narcissistic mother, other close narcissistic relationships, and toxic colleagues and workplaces. Her own healing journey inspired her to become a life coach so she could help other people in similar situations have a chance at living life on their own terms.
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Connect with Adriana:
Website: letsgetyourshifttogether.com/community/
Instagram: @letsgetyourshifttogether -
Danette Haag shares her experiences living through and living with a severe burn injury from a house explosion as a child. A registered nurse, trauma mentor, and speaker, Danette shares how her experience has helped her redefine beauty by bringing purpose to the pain. So instead of being limited by the scars in our lives, we can be empowered by them.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What scars, physical or figurative, can you explore more and find beauty within?
2. What metaphors or analogies can you consider eliminating from your dialogue due to their insensitive nature?
3. When you feel doubt, how can you flip your script and move through it?
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About Danette Haag:
Danette Haag is a wife, a mom of 4, and an athlete. She is an inspirational speaker, a registered nurse, a trauma mentor, and a soul coach who gives credit for her successes to her lifetime of strong faith. She is honored to have received the 2019 Northern Colorado Woman of Courage award and won the prestigious title of Mrs. Colorado 2021. Danette is a co-founder and program leader for her 501c3 nonprofit Hero Haven – a unique program for first responders dealing with the negative effects of cumulative trauma. In her roles as a speaker, a soul coach, a trauma mentor, and a Hero Haven retreat facilitator, Danette shares her experiences living through and living with a severe burn injury from a house explosion as a little girl. Danette’s mission is to inspire others to see their own incredible value by sharing all she has learned from walking with courage, healing her soul, and redefining her beauty – bringing purpose to her own pain. Danette is ‘Beauty From Ashes’ and believes no one needs to get stuck behind any life scar.
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Connect with Danette:
Website: beautyfromashesspeaker.com
Instagram: @beautyfromashes_2021
Facebook: @danettebeautyfromashes -
Cali Williams Yost is a visionary workplace futurist, strategist, and author who shares her perspective and experience working with organizations and individuals to rethink and reimagine the way work is done. We are living in a time when we have an opportunity to not only change the way we think about work, but also implement those changes in a way that positively impacts our work.
Called “one of the most sophisticated thinkers” on the transformation of work by The New York Times, her commentary is frequently featured in the Wall Street Journal and NBC Nightly News.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What workplace traditions can you reimagine or rethink?
2. How would you benefit from shifting your focus from “where” you work to “what” you’re working on?
3. What small changes or “tweaks” can you make to optimize your well-being?
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About Cali Williams Yost:
For more than two decades, Cali Williams Yost has been a leading authority on high-performance work flexibility. A visionary workplace futurist, strategist, and author, Yost is the Founder and CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group, a solutions company helping organizations unlock performance and engagement by reimagining how, when, and where work is done.
Called “one of the most sophisticated thinkers” on the transformation of work by The New York Times, her commentary is frequently featured in the Wall Street Journal, HBR, USA TODAY, Marketplace and NBC Nightly News. Yost approaches flexible work transformation as a strategic business imperative. She codified her concepts in her books, Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day, (Hachette, 2013), and Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You (Penguin Group, 2004).
Yost graduated with honors from Columbia Business School where she’s noted as an alumnus of “Changing the World.” In 2018, she was named one of the global management thinkers “On the Radar” by Thinkers50, and she was cited as one of Forbes’s 40 Women to Watch Over 40.
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Connect with Cali:
Website: flexstrategygroup.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caliwilliamsyost/ -
Sheryl Gurrentz, entrepreneur and author, over the course of her career, has worked and consulted with several non-profits, large corporations, and start-ups, to help them align their mission, operations, and more. Yet, some of her most cherished experiences have come out of the time, resources, and energy she’s provided to organizations such as CASA, Denver Children’s Home, and JTown, where she was also the founding President. And how has she navigated this dynamic between work and volunteering?
As she shares in this episode, when you find yourself on what feels like the edges of your life, then you’re likely too far from your real purpose, which is your prompting to switch directions and move back towards your center.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. When have you felt as though you’re not doing what you’re meant to do?
2. What experiences bring you back to your center?
3. What causes feel closest to your center and would benefit from your time and energy?
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About Sheryl Gurrentz:
Sheryl Gurrentz has worked and consulted with non-profits and their boards, large corporations, start-ups, and entrepreneurial companies to help them align their mission and operations, identify and evaluate expansion options, implement new fundraising/financing strategies, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Her volunteer positions include serving as President of the Board of Trustees of the Denver Children’s Home Foundation and as Chair of Resource Development for the Board of Directors of Denver Children’s Home, which is Colorado’s oldest non-profit organization. She was also the founding President of JTown, a Board Member of the Mountain States Council of the Anti-Defamation League, on the Community Fundraising Advisory Council for Lone Tree Arts Center, and held multiple board leadership positions at Temple Sinai, including Vice President of Development, where she designed and led a $5M capital campaign. Since 2011, she has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) serving children in the child welfare system. Currently, she volunteers with Project Our Town, The Realness Project, and Dry Bones—all of which are non-profits serving our community’s most at-risk members.
She is the author of four books, has been a regular columnist for the Rocky Mountain News’ Colorado Jobs publication, and has a degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.
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Connect with Sheryl:
projectourtown.org
denvercasa.org
realnessproject.org
drybonesdenver.org -
Diane Simard, a motivational speaker, and breast cancer survivor has dedicated her life to raising awareness about the psychological trauma that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis.
Recognized as one of the inaugural Top 100 National Women in Business to Watch by BizWomen.com within three months of completing treatment, Diane founded the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE) at the University of Denver and began writing her award-winning book, The Unlikely Gift of Breast Cancer.
Sharing more about her life, her journey, and her book, you’ll learn that even the most challenging experience can unwrap the most unlikely gifts.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. Who in your life needs support with a health concern
2. How has your life prepared you for adversity?
3. What unlikely gifts have your challenges in life provided?
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About Diane Simard:
Recognized as one of the inaugural Top 100 National Women in Business to Watch by BizWomen.com, Diane M. Simard is an executive leadership legacy creator, motivational speaker, survivor of Stage III breast cancer, and psycho-oncology advocate to bring more attention to the psychological trauma cancer often creates.
Within three months of completing treatment, Diane founded the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE) at the University of Denver and began writing the multi award-winning book, The Unlikely Gift of Breast Cancer, named one of Book Authority’s best breast cancer books of all time. Her COPE story is featured in Courageous Warrior: Beauty from the Ashes, a multi-award-winning independent documentary film now streaming.
During her career as a business strategy executive and angel investor, she served on 12 corporate and non-profit boards and was recently named a Distinguished Alumni by her alma-mater, the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
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Connect with Diane:
Website: dianemsimard.com
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Melissa Carpenter, a seasoned HR leader, began experiencing a left-hand tremor and other symptoms at only 37 years old and just two years later, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Not only a recent inductee into the Lincoln East High School Athletic Hall of Fame for gymnastics, but Melissa is also far from the typical demographics of Parkinson’s patients; men over the age of 50 years old.
What you’ll learn is that Melissa is navigating her Parkinson’s journey like her professional journey, with curiosity, courageous leadership, and above all, extreme gratitude.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. How can the practice of gratitude help you develop a more positive outlook on life, even in the face of challenging or uncertain circumstances?
2. Think of a challenge you faced recently. How can practicing gratitude for what you do have, rather than the challenge, help you navigate a better solution?
3. In what ways might gratitude be used as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth?
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About Melissa Carpenter:
Melissa Carpenter has a strong passion for the "human" part of Human Resources. A strategic HR leader, she’s developed and facilitated leadership programs that help managers focus on courageous leadership, exploring and leading themselves and their teams through complex issues.
She has been on her journey with Parkinson’s since 2014 and continues exploring ways to support herself as well as spread awareness throughout the community.
Her daughter Olivia joined her when she facilitated her first Facebook live in 2019, inciting several great questions and community support around Parkinson’s. She continues to spread awareness about the disease, especially during Parkinson’s awareness month in April.
Melissa’s been approved for DBS surgery which is deep, brain stimulation, a type of therapy to help control symptoms on a more consistent basis, as well as help decrease the use of medications like dyskinesia, which I discussed in the podcast, it will hopefully give me a better quality of life. I meet with my neurosurgeon next week and hopefully, from there, we will schedule the surgery.
She resides in Lincoln, Nebraska with her husband Kris and two children, Caden (14 years old) and Olivia (11 years old).
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Connect with Melissa:
LinkedIn: Melissa Carpenter
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Sabrina Smith, the author of the book, What Does Fine Feel Like, talks about her journey of experiencing and identifying feelings. Sabrina lost both of her parents during the pandemic. Like many Gen Xers, she explored how to name her feelings later in life. She shares more about the power of therapy, moving through rather than getting stuck in life’s challenges and embracing the notion that everything prepares you for the next moment.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What experiences have impacted your life?
2. What can you learn from your experiences?
3. What feelings have you experienced lately?
4. How can you take the time to name your feelings, sit in them, and explore what they mean to you?
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About Sabrina Smith:
Sabrina VanDine Smith is a first-time author, Gen Xer, and lover of sparkle. She was raised in Southern California, but calls Colorado home, where she lives with her husband and two children. She loves lake life, creative writing, geocaching, cooking, and amateur photography.
She was either a gossip columnist or a private investigator in her former life. Though Sabrina's long career as a salesperson was inspired by her dad, being a mom and wife feeds her soul. Sabrina lost both of her parents during the pandemic.
Like many Gen Xers, she explored how to name her feelings much later in life. That journey inspired this story.
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Connect with Sabrina Smith:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sabrinasmith/
Amazon Book: What Does Fine Feel Like -
Jennifer Long, a mom, wife, and sales leader, added the title of “animal rescuer” 5 years ago when she purchased five and ½ acres outside of Seattle and founded The Muddy Pug Farm & Sanctuary. Initially dedicated to providing sanctuary to animals, Jen’s passion project has provided lessons for her, her family, her team, and the community. Jen is an example that following your passion is essential, offering lessons to practice in all other aspects of life.
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Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What things give you joy?
2. What are you passionate about?
3. What idea, experience, or dream do you want to pursue?
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About Jennifer Long:
Jennifer Long is a mom, a wife, an animal rescuer, and a sales leader. She has navigated a successful career in employee benefits, spending the bulk of her career solving some of the most complicated employer challenges within health plans. She currently leads Kaiser Permanente's growth as a Senior Director focused on large employer plans.
In 2018, Jen purchased five 1/2-acre farm 25 miles southeast of Seattle with the dream of rescuing animals. Jen founded The Muddy Pug Farm & Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 non-profit farm sanctuary dedicated to saving lives, giving sanctuary, and building community. Her work there focuses on the 40 permanent residents with cows, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and cats, all of whom now live in a peaceful forever home. Jen also partners with community non-profits to extend their impact on the community. Jen and her husband recently added 9 acres to an existing property in rural Hawaii to begin work on a second sanctuary site focused on abandoned cows and dogs.
Jen has launched her podcast - Be the Goat: Lessons Learned from a Life in Sanctuary - where she profiles sanctuary and rescue founders to bring unique insights into life and business.
Jen and her husband have three children and love watching these wonderful young adults launch their independent lives.
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Connect with Jennifer Long:
Website: muddypugfarm.org
Instagram: instagram.com/the_muddy_pug
Podcast: instagram.com/be_the_goat_lessons - Montre plus
